Find Your Space: Arts @Anjali, Labyrinth Writing Retreat June 16

Spend this Saturday, June 16, on our beautiful 7-acre campus with a Summer Solstice Labyrinth Writing Retreat from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the inaugural Arts @Anjali event starting at 2 p.m. Journalist and editor Julie Wichman of Milwaukee leads the retreat for aspiring writers. Then, Poetry, Prose and Song features poets and writers who will read their work, plus classical soprano Gale Ketteler and pianist Mary Tarraf with songs of love, loss and parenthood. Don’t miss Arts @Anjali in our lovely new Anjali Pavilion, and come early to experience an amazing creative and transformative experience on our labyrinth in the morning.

Symmetry/Chaos is a new art exhibit opening this Friday, June 15, with a fun reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m., sponsored by David Boccignone-Ameriprise Financial. Come see how artists look beyond the chaos to the sacred geometry that surrounds us. You can become one of those artists yourself at Beginning Wheel ThrownPottery on Sundays with Susan Lee, or Raku Pottery with Dee Santorini on Mondays or Thursdays. These classes all start next week. We also have a new Watercolor class with Sue Gilbert Abare starting July 10, and beginners are very welcome.

Dr. Shanti Hulsebus shares her vast knowledge at a Lunch and Learn:Stress and Your Health June 20, sponsored by Sandra J. Slaga, Attorney at Law. Bring your lunch and learn how important it is to find ways to relax … like Meditation for Adults with Shanti June 20, 27, July 11, 25 and beyond. Don’t miss this chance to learn peaceful stress reduction techniques from a life-long practitioner. Meditation for Kids meets select Saturdays starting June 30, with an art component. Kids have a lot of stress, too! You might also try weekly Yoga for Women classes with Una Ryan Thursday mornings. If you need some practical tools to stay healthy, Natural Health: Recipes and Remedies for Common Illness and Disease with Patricia Halverson is July 10.

Our new Tech Support Group (for members only) will explore The World of Apps led by Tracy Pease June 23, and Praying with Images of the Divine is a fascinating look at artist Meinrad Craighead, with video and discussion June 25. Lucky boys and girls ages 9-14 will visit Comtech Corporation’s studios during Career Exploration: Video Production June 26. This fun field trip will be hosted by the wonderful people who created our Telly Award-winning video A Morningstar Rising last fall. You can watch it now on our website or YouTube channel.

Go mark your calendars for Fairy Festival with Rockford Dance Company Aug. 4. It’s our fourth annual evening of magic, dance and fun for all ages. You can also bring your family July 28 to Build a Fairy House in our pine forest with artist Norm Knott. Women, men and children are all welcome at Womanspace, and you do not have to be a member to participate in our art classes, programs and special events.

Gale Ketteler is program coordinator and marketing specialist at Womanspace, a not-for-profit founded in 1975 and located on a 7-acre campus a half-mile west of Rock Valley College off Spring Brook and Applewood at 3333 Maria Linden Drive in Rockford. Regular office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Thursday. Info at (815) 877-0118, info@womanspace-rockford.org, www.facebook.com/Womanspace and www.womanspace-rockford.org.